Credit & Contact-Hour Guidelines

Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Credits & Contact Hours

The Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵÌýfollows a semester system:

  • Standard fall and spring semesters consist of 15 weeks, which include 14 weeks (70 days) of instruction, plus one week (5 days) for exams.
  • Special sessions within fall and spring semesters, as well as summer sessions, have fewer instructional days than the full standard terms (shorter than 14 weeks in fall and spring) and must adhere to the policy in terms of contact hours and the amount of work required. See the special cases section below.

CU Boulder follows the federal requirements from the U.S. Department of Education as found inÌý, theÌý.Ìý

The faculty and program administrators are responsible for developing, maintaining and evaluating the curriculum within an academic program, although college, school and/or university requirements must still be met. Assignment of credit hours for courses are determined within the program based on content and course learning objectives.

The schedule of classes is reviewed by the Office of the Registrar prior to the start of each semester to ensure that all class sections are scheduled for the appropriate number of contact hours corresponding to the credits assigned. Classes that have special instructions or allowances to make up non-scheduled contact hours must be properly noted in the published schedule of classes. Any discrepancies or deficiencies are brought to the attention of the appropriate department for correction or explanation.

Credit-Hour Guidelines

The following provides general definitions of the class types and instructional methods employed by CU Boulder, as well as guidance on how required credit and contact hours translate for each.

The information below serves as general guidance only, and the definitions do not dictate particular amounts of classroom time versus out-of-class student work. However, out-of-class requirements that account for required contact time must be noted in that semester's schedule of classes and in the syllabus distributed to students at the beginning of the term.

Sections with nonstandard or no formal meeting patterns must meet the required number of minimum contact hours (or the equivalent for online and hybrid offerings).

Guidelines by Class Type (Component)

Definition: Definition: Participation in client and client-related services that are an integral part of an academic program. Clinical instruction occurs in or outside an institutional setting and involves work with clients who receive professional services from students serving under direct supervision of a faculty member and/or program director.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: An original investigation required for graduation at the doctoral level that shows mature scholarship and critical judgment, and demonstrates knowledge of research tools and methods.

Expectations: Dissertation credits should correlate with the scope and level of research or written work. The faculty member is required to keep records.

​Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: Courses of study involving instructional activities conducted by the faculty and designed to supplement and/or extend an individual course or classroom experience.

Expectations: The faculty member or program director responsible for the experience is required to keep records.

​â¶Ä‹Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two-and-a-half times that of a lecture (2.5:1 ratio).

Definition: Courses of study where a student is formally enrolled during a period of research or independent study instruction in which the faculty member interacts with and directs student projects or other required activities with minimal associated direction.

Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: Credit hours for placement at an approved business and/or industry environment that offers degree-seeking students professional-level experience and responsibility. An applied and supervised field-based learning experience where students gain practical experience following a negotiated and/or directed plan of study.

Expectations: The faculty member or program director is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically three times that of a lecture (3:1 ratio).

Definition: Instructional activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member that require student participation, experimentation, observation or practice.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit:ÌýTypically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: A faculty member is responsible for delivery and discussion of learning material and related instructional activities.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit:ÌýStandard 14-week semester requirements are below. Weekly contact time must be equivalent but prorated for classes scheduled in shorter special sessions. Credits are calculated with respect to contact time and out-of-class work (1:1 ratio).

Credits Awarded

MinimumÌýContact Time (1 Week)

MinimumÌýContact Time (15 Weeks)

MinimumÌýOut-of-Class Work (1 Week)

Minimum Out-of-Class Work (15 Weeks)

Total Instructional Contact Time & Out-of-Class Work

1

50 minutes

700 minutes

100 minutes

1,400 minutes

2,100 minutes

Ìý(35 hours)

2

100 minutes

1,400 minutes

200 minutes

2,800 minutes

4,200 minutes

(70 hours)

3

150 minutes

2,100 minutes

300 minutes

4,200 minutes

6,300 minutes

(105 hours)

4

200 minutes

2,800 minutes

400 minutes

5,600 minutes

8,400 minutes

(140 hours)

All other Class Types are defined with a comparison or ratio to the minimum contact time per credit hour to that of a Lecture.

Definition: Stand-alone labs involving instructional activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member that require student participation, experimentation, observation or practice.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit:ÌýTypically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: Nonstandard course offerings that do not match the description of any other class or instructional type.

Expectations: Should the course meet outside of the standard contact time or involve outside student work, contact time and requirements must be established and documented. The faculty member or program director responsible for the experience is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).

Definition: Practical student work under the supervision of a faculty member or under supervision of a professional in the student's field with regular consultation with a faculty member.

Expectations: The faculty member or program director is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: A smaller course or section of a larger course, designed for group discussion or student recitation.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).

Definition: Student projects or other required activities with minimal faculty-associated direction where a student is formally enrolled during a period of research.

Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: A highly focused course that may include student presentations and discussions of reports based on literature, practice, problems or research (e.g., a capstone course).

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).

Definition: A course with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member wherein the student works to develop technical or creative skills respective to the area of study (e.g., music ensembles, art studio).

Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: A research or expository critical or creative work required for graduation with a master's degree.

Expectations: Thesis credits should correlate with the scope and level of research or written work. The faculty member is required to keep records.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Definition: Courses with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member wherein the student performs substantive work in a workshop setting to develop technical or creative skills using the facilities and equipment respective to the area of study.

Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).

Guidelines for Distance Education Instructional Modalities

The following guidelines apply to distance education instructional modalities. Definitions of CU Boulder instruction modes (e.g., online, remote, hybrid) are published and maintained in an onlineÌýglossary.

Courses offered through a distance delivery method must have the same learning outcomes, performance standards and substantive components of an in person offering of the same course.Ìý

The faculty member is required to keep records as courses must meet the total amount of instructional contact hours and student work time as defined in the credit-hour guidelines for class type (lecture, lab, seminar, etc.)Ìý

Contact time is satisfied by several means, which includes but is not limited to at least two of the following:

  • Regular instruction or interaction with a faculty member.
  • Assessing or providing feedback on the student's coursework.
  • Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency.
  • Facilitating a group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency.

Courses offered in a blended format of more than one modality (in person, online and/or remote requiring some substantive interaction with a faculty member).

For hybrid courses, contact time is assessed using the on-site definition for the on-site portion and the online definition for the online portion.

Courses offered entirely online and asynchronously (no scheduled meeting patterns) and without any face-to-face meetings.Ìý

Courses offered entirely online and asynchronously (no scheduled meeting patterns) without any face-to-face meetings. Students are permitted to work at an individualized pace with limited interaction between student and faculty. Students enrolled in classes with an Online Flex instructional mode may complete requirements for a limited and prescribed period beyond the standard semester or session end date (typically up to six months from the point of enrollment).Ìý

Online Flex only applies to select course sections offered through Boulder Continuing Education.

Courses offered entirely online and synchronously (with scheduled day/time meeting patterns) and without any face-to-face meetings.

Guidelines for Special Cases

Required contact hours for classes offered within shorter special sessions within a standard fall or spring semester or summer sessions must be maintained; compliance will be monitored by the Office of the Registrar.

The general guideline for each Carnegie credit/unit is 700 instructional minutes. As such, a 3-credit class must still be scheduled to meet for approximately 35 hours during the special session.

View the Special Session Guidelines (PDF)Ìý

While rare, when there is a sound pedagogical reason, courses may be created and offered in increments of half credits (e.g., 1.5 credits).

  • Fractional-credit courses are typically part of a course sequence and are taught progressively in special sessions within a term. For example, two fractional courses may be offered in back-to-back sessions within a given semester.
  • If not taught as part of a course sequence throughout a term, fractional-credit courses may be required to be offered during non-peak meeting times.

Minimum required contact hours must be prorated accordingly for fractional-credit courses (e.g., 1.5 credits = 1,050 minutes or 17.5 hours).

Note:ÌýFor academic and administrative purposes, fractional credits are calculated and treated at face value. They are not rounded in credit totals for graduation or degree requirements, tuition calculations, enrollment status and verifications, participation eligibility, etc. They are only approved in special circumstances.

Calculating Awarded Credit Hours

The following calculations apply to 14-week and special session classes in fall and spring semesters, and Sessions A–D, Maymester and Augmester during Summer Session. Instructional time does not include periods of orientation, homework, vacation, holiday or grading periods.

Tables are based upon the federal requirements from the U.S. Department of Education as found inÌý, theÌý, as well as the Veterans' Administration for federal educational benefits, such as the G.I. Bill.

Fall & Spring Semesters

First, multiply the class's instruction minutes per day by the number of meeting days per week. Next, multiply that value by 14 weeks per semester.

Example:

A 3-credit full-semester lecture course that meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:05 to 9:55 a.m.

  • 50 instruction minutes per day * 3 meeting days per week = 150 instruction minutes per week
  • 150 instruction minutes per week * 14 weeks per semester = 2,100 total instruction minutes
Summer Sessions

Multiply the class's instruction minutes per day by the number of meeting days in the session (see table below).Ìý

Example

A 3-credit lecture offered in Session A that meets daily from 7:30 to 9:05 a.m. would meet 2,185 minutes, which is just slightly more than the required 2,100 contact minutes.

Summer Sessions (table represents summer 2025)

Number of Meeting
Days per Session*
Session A
Session B
Session C
Session D
MaymesterAugmester
# of Mondays in session
5
4
8
10

2

3

# of Tuesdays in session
5
5
8
10

3

3

# of Wednesdays in session
5
5
8
10

3

3

# of Thursdays in session
4
5
7
9

3

2

# of Fridays in session
4
5
7
9

3

2

Total # of meetings (M–F) in session
23
24
38
48

14

13

The table above follows state and federal guidelines and is to be used to set the meeting times for summer classes.

*The actual number of instructional meetings per weekday may vary slightly from year to year based on academic calendar and holiday schedules.

Divide the result of step 1 by the required total class minutes per credit for the class orÌýcomponent type (see table below).

Fall & Spring Example

For a 3-credit lecture-based class, divide its 2,100 total instruction minutes by the 700 required instruction minutes per credit for a lecture course, which equals 3.0.

Summer Example

For a 3-credit lecture-based class, divide its 2,185 total instruction minutes by the 700 required instruction minutes per credit for a lecture course, which equals 3.12.

Component Type
Required InstructionÌýMinutesÌýper Credit
Ratio of Weekly Class MinutesÌýto Awarded Credits
Clinical (CLN)
1400
2-1 ratio
Dissertation (DIS)
1400
2-1 ratio
Field studies (FLD)
1750
2.5-1 ratio
Independent study (IND)
1400
2-1 ratio
Internship (INT)
2100
3-1 ratio
Laboratory (LAB)
1400
2-1 ratio
Lecture (LEC)
700
1-1 ratio
Main lab section (MLS)
1400
2-1 ratio
Practicum (PRC)
1400
2-1 ratio
Recitation (REC)
700
1-1 ratio
Seminar (SEM)
700
1-1 ratio
Studio (STU)
1400
2-1 ratio
Thesis (THE)14002-1 ratio
Workshop (WKS)
1400
2-1 ratio

Note: CDHE requirements for one credit hour are based on course component type.

If the result from step 2 isn't a whole number, round it down to the nearest whole number.

Fall & Spring Example

The result from step 2 was 3.0, which translates to 3 credit hours.

Summer Example

The results from step 2 are 3.00 and 3.12, which would round down to 3 credit hours.

State & Federal Definitions

Excerpted from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education'sÌý (April 2019):

The faculty Base Contact Hour represents a standard unit used to measure the amount of time faculty members spend directly interacting with students in a scheduled instructional setting.ÌýThe standard measurement for a faculty Base Contact Hour at CU Boulder, except for the instructional activities listed in the table above, is equivalent to 700 minutes (14 x 50-minute sessions).

Currently published language (2025), excerpted from the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations ():

Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), a credit hour is an amount of student work defined by an institution, as approved by the institution's accrediting agency or State approval agency, that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education and that -

(1) Reasonably approximates not less than—

(i) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time; or

(ii) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1)(i) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Excerpted from the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations ():

(1) Education that uses one or more of the technologies listed in paragraphs (2)(i) through (iv) of this definition to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor or instructors and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor or instructors, either synchronously or asynchronously.

(2) The technologies that may be used to offer distance education include—

(i) The internet;

(ii) One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices;

(iii) Audio conference; or

(iv) Other media used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in paragraphs (2)(i) through (iii) of this definition.

(3) For purposes of this definition, an instructor is an individual responsible for delivering course content and who meets the qualifications for instruction established by an institution's accrediting agency.

(4) For purposes of this definition, substantive interaction is engaging students in teaching, learning, and assessment, consistent with the content under discussion, and also includes at least two of the following—

(i) Providing direct instruction;

(ii) Assessing or providing feedback on a student's coursework;

(iii) Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency;

(iv) Facilitating a group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency; or

(v) Other instructional activities approved by the institution's or program's accrediting agency.

(5) An institution ensures regular interaction between a student and an instructor or instructors by, prior to the student's completion of a course or competency—

(i) Providing the opportunity for substantive interactions with the student on a predictable and scheduled basis commensurate with the length of time and the amount of content in the course or competency; and

(ii) Monitoring the student's academic engagement and success and ensuring that an instructor is responsible for promptly and proactively engaging in substantive interaction with the student when needed on the basis of such monitoring, or upon request by the student.

See also:ÌýRegular and Substantive Requirements in Distance Education.Ìý

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